BOLETIM DO INSTITUTO DE PESCA

ISSN 1678-2305 online version

Scientific Article

VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTED DIET FOR PACU FINGERLINGS

ABSTRACT
Vitamins are present in small amounts in food and are essential for the organic balance of fish.
Arcangelo Augusto SIGNOR 1 Liposoluble vitamins are stored in the liver and may lead to hypo or hypervitaminosis which in
both cases can generate complications to animal homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate the
Flavia Renata Potrich SIGNOR2 effects of vitamin A supplementation in the diet of pacu fingerlings (Piaractus mesopotamicus).
A total of 240 fingerlings with the initial average weight of 17.55 ± 3.22 g were randomly distributed in
Wilson Rogério BOSCOLO2 20 500 L-circular tanks. Diets were supplemented with retinol acetate (1,000,000 IU of vitamin A g-1)
Altevir SIGNOR2 to contain 0, 3,000, 6,000, 9,000, and 12,000 IU of vitamin A kg-1 of diet. The fish were fed ad
libitum. Productive performance, carcass yield, visceral fat, hepatosomatic ratio, carcass chemical
Aldi FEIDEN2 composition, hematology blood parameters, and liver histology were evaluated. The quadratic
Lauro VARGAS3 effect was observed on final weight and apparent feed conversion with optimum levels at 6,583 and
5,555 IU of vitamin A kg-1 of feed, respectively. There was no influence of vitamin A supplementation
on survival, carcass chemical composition, hematology, and liver histology. The minimum
supplementation of 5,555 IU of vitamin A kg-1 of ration is indicated to obtain enhanced results in
weight gain and apparent feed conversion in pacu fingerlings.
Key words: blood parameters; histology; liposoluble vitamin; native fish; pisciculture.
Instituto Federal do Paraná - IFPR, Departamento de
1

Aquicultura, Av. Araucária, 780, CEP 85860-000, Foz do

Iguaçu, PR, Brasil. E-mail: arcangelo.signor@ifpr.edu.
br (corresponding author). VITAMINA A NA DIETA DE ALEVINOS DE PACU
Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Campus
2

Toledo, Rua da Faculdade, 645, CEP 85903-000, RESUMO

Toledo, PR, Brasil. As vitaminas estão presentes em pequenas quantidades nos alimentos e são essenciais para o
equilíbrio orgânico dos peixes. As vitaminas lipossolúveis são armazenadas no fígado, podem
Universidade Estadual de Maringá – UEM, Av. Colombo,
3
apresentar sinais clínicos de hipovitaminose ou hipervitaminose, e que em ambos os casos
5790, CEP 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brasil. podem trazer complicações a homeostase animal. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar
a suplementação de vitamina A em dietas para alevinos de pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus).
Foram utilizados 240 alevinos com peso inicial médio de 17,55 ± 3,22, distribuídos
aleatoriamente em 20 caixas circulares de 500 L. As dietas foram suplementadas com acetato
de retinol (1.000,000 IU of vitamin A g-1), de forma a conter 0, 3.000, 6.000, 9.000 e 12.000 UI
Received: December 15, 2017 de vitamina A/kg de dieta. Foi observado efeito quadrático sobre os parâmetros de ganho de
Approved: March 08, 2018 peso e conversão alimentar aparente com níveis ótimos de 6.583 e 5.555 UI de vitamina A kg-1 de
ração, respectivamente. Não foram observadas influencias da suplementação de vitamina A sobre
sobrevivência, composição da carcaça, hematologia e histologia do fígado do pacu. Para obtenção
de melhores resultados de ganho de peso e conversão alimentar indica-se a suplementação
mínima de 5,555 UI de vitamina A kg-1 de ração para o pacu.
Palavras-chave: parâmetros sanguíneos; histologia; vitamina lipossolúvel; peixes nativos;
piscicultura.

INTRODUCTION
Vitamins are organic compounds that are classified as liposoluble or hydrosoluble
and function as catalysts or metabolism regulators. Liposoluble vitamins, including
vitamin A, are absorbed through the small intestine along with lipids from the diet.
Thus, conditions that are favorable for the absorption of fats provide an increased
absorption of liposoluble vitamins (NRC, 2011).
Vitamin A participates in numerous functions in organisms and is involved in the
synthesis of some glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans, which act as steroid hormones
in growth regulation and cell differentiation (HALVER, 2002; FURUITA et al., 2003).
According to HALVER (2002), the vitamin requirements in fish vary with age, size,

SIGNOR et al. Bol. Inst. Pesca 2018, 44(3): e331. DOI: 10.20950/1678-2305.2018.331 1/8
VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTED…

environmental factors, maturation, and gonadal relationships with METHODS

nutrients. However, nutrients can be required in up to 10 times
more under conditions of diseases, stress, and social interactions The experiment was performed for 102 days in the Aquaculture
than under normal culture conditions (TOGUYENI et al., 1997). Laboratory at the State University of Western Paraná in Toledo-PR.
SIGNOR et al. (2013) used retinyl acetate MicrovitTM A Supra 1000 as This methodology was approved by the Committee on Ethical
the source of vitamin A (0; 3,000; 6,000; 9,000 and 12,000 UI of Conduct for the Use of Animals in Experimentation from the
vitamin A for kg diet) to supplement diets for pacu (66 grams of State University of Maringá under protocol number 066/2009.
initial weight) and showed no influence on productive performance
in fish cultivated in cages. However, the authors evidenced the
need for more research aimed at establishing the requirement of
Preparation and analysis of diets
vitamin A in this species. Prepared mineral and vitamin supplements containing
Because the liver is the storage site of vitamin A, it is considered 0, 3,000, 6,000, 9,000, and 12,000 IU of vitamin A per kilogram
the main organ related to the metabolism and homeostasis of of diet, through the use of retinyl acetate (Microvit™ A Supra
this vitamin. Its absorption begins in the intestine followed by 1000) in the concentration of 1,000,000 IU of vitamin A g-1 were
assimilation in enterocytes linked to crude protein. Retinyl esters used in the experiments. The vitamin was the last ingredient added
are incorporated in the chylomicron and secreted into the to the diets (Table 1). The ration was formulated according to the
bloodstream. Chylomicrons are incorporated through endocytosis nutritional requirements of 28% crude protein (PB) and 3,000 kcal
into hepatocytes in the liver where retinyl esters are stored, of digestible energy (ED) kg-1 of ration.
subsequently hydrolyzed, and released as free retinyl; the retinyl
The ingredients (corn, soybean, and wheat bran, and poultry viscera
carrier protein transfers it to hepatic stellate cells where it is
and fish meal) were weighed, blended, and ground in a hammer
re-esterified into retinyl esters and stored in cytoplasmic lipid
droplets (FERNANDEZ and GISBERT, 2011). mill until reaching 0.8 mm in diameter. Micronutrients, mineral
and vitamin supplements, antifungal, and oil were subsequently
The ingestion of vitamin A is important in fish because it acts
added and mixed. The diets were subjected to extrusion producing
on differentiation and cellular proliferation, vision, reproduction,
pellets with 2 mm that were dried in a forced convection oven at
embryonic development, immune response (HALVER, 2002),
skeletal deformation (LALL and LEWIS-MCCREA, 2007;
FERNANDEZ et al., 2009), and growth (WESTON et al., 2003).
Its deficiency can cause skin bleeding, vision problems, changes in
Table 1. Percentage and chemical composition estimated in the
the hepatosomatic ratio, and fish mortality (SALEH et al., 1995;
basal ration for pacu fingerlings, Piaractus mesopotamicus.
HAYASHIDA et al., 2004; MOREN et al., 2004). However, the
excess of vitamin A in the diet reduces the productive performance Ingredients %
and survival, causes the liver to become yellowish, and reduces Corn grain 41.36
hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (HILTON, 1983).
Soybean meal 26.77
Several studies demonstrate the effects of vitamin A on various Poultry viscera meal 14.65
metabolic aspects in fish, either in reproduction and larval stages Fish meal 11.44
or in growth. However, SIGNOR et al. (2013) is the only study
Wheat bran 3.00
reporting that vitamin A does not influence growth performance,
chemical composition, blood parameters, and total lipid content in Soybean oil 1.65
the liver of juvenile pacus (P. mesopotamicus) grown in cages and Mineral and vitamin supplement(1) 0.50
weighing more than 66 grams. Therefore, the authors indicated Sodium chloride 0.30
that further research was needed to evaluate the influence of DL-methionine 0.21
vitamin A on growth performance in pacu. On the other hand, Antifungal (calcium propionate) 0.10
BUENO et al. (2008) reported that the environment used by the Antioxidant (BHT) 0.02
researchers in that study (SIGNOR et al., 2013) was oligotrophic, Total (g) 100
which may have compromised the study results. Knowledge
Chemical composition(2) %
about the effects of vitamin A on fish growth is essential for de
Dry matter 91.00
designing of diet formulations that meet the nutritional requirements
of fish (NRC, 2011). An excess, as well as a lack of vitamin A, Protein 28.10
may impair growth and survival and cause skeletal formation in Fat 7.00
fish (ORNSRUD et al., 2002; HU et al., 2006; PEIL et al., 2007; Mineral matter 6.40
FERNANDEZ et al., 2008; FERNANDEZ et al., 2009). (1)
Assurance levels per kilogram of product: Vit. D3, 400,000 IU; Vit. E, 30,000 IU;
Vit. K3, 2,000 mg; Vit. B1, 4,000 mg; Vit. B2, 4,000 mg; Vit. B6, 2,000 mg;
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the supplementation Vit. B12, 8 mg; Folic acid, 1,000 mg; Ca Pantothenate 1,000 mg; Vit. C, 60,000 mg;
of vitamin A in diets for pacu fingerlings (Piaractus mesopotamicus) Biotin, 200 mg; Inositol, 20,000; Niacin, 20,000; Choline, 100,000 mg; Co, 140 mg;
in regards to productive performance responses, carcass chemical Cu, 2,000 mg; Fe, 16,000 mg; I, 200 mg; Mn, 10,000 mg; Se, 80 mg; and Zn,
composition, and hematological and liver histological parameters. 16,000 mg. (2) Analysis performed in the Laboratory of Food Quality/Unioeste.

SIGNOR et al. Bol. Inst. Pesca 2018, 44(3): e331. DOI: 10.20950/1678-2305.2018.331 2/8
VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTED…
55 °C, packaged, labeled, and stored in a refrigerator until use.
The fish were fed daily to satiety at 8 and 11 am, and 2 and 5 pm.
Experimental design
A total of 240 fingerlings were used with an average weight
of 17.55 ± 3.22 g and 9.29 ± 0.69 cm in total length. They were
randomly distributed in five treatments with four replicates; each
tank contained 12 fish was considered one experimental unity.
Twenty circular 500 L-fiberglass tanks with a conical bottom
and constant oxygenation produced by a central air blower were
used; these tanks contained a water recirculation system with
central and low water outlets. The water circulated through a
mechanical and biological filter, and a heating system. Feeding
was done ad libutum at 8 an 11 am, 2 and 5 pm.
Water quality
The water electrical conductivity (µS cm ), dissolved oxygen
-1
(mg L-1), and pH were monitored weekly while temperature (oC)
was monitored twice daily, in the morning (8 am) and afternoon
(5 pm). Water samples were collected in dark polyethylene bottles
and evaluated in the Laboratory of Food Quality Control at the
State University of Western Paraná, in Toledo-PR for turbidity,
ammonia, orthophosphate, and available phosphate. Turbidity
was measured using HANNA instruments (Hanna Instruments);
these samples were subsequently filtered using a vacuum pump
for the analyses of ammonia, orthophosphate, and dissolved
phosphate. The ammonia content was analyzed according to the
methodology described by STRICKLAND and PARSONS (1972),
and orthophosphate and dissolved phosphate were analyzed
according to the methodology described by MACKERETH et al.
(1978). The average values of water quality parameters were
27.14 ± 0.54 °C; 6.89 ± 0.39 pH; 6.84 ± 0.97 mg L-1 dissolved oxygen;
91.0 ± 4.92 µS cm-1 electrical conductivity; 0.77 ± 0.13 turbidity;
0.04 ± 0.01 mg L-1 ammonia; 0.83 ± 0.01 mg L-1 orthophosphate;
and 0.80 ± 0.01 mg L-1 dissolved phosphate.
Productive performance
The fish were submitted to fasting for 12 h at the end of the
experimental period and euthanized with benzocaine at the
concentration of 250 mg L-1 of water (GOMES et al., 2001) for
the analyses of productive performance, yield, carcass chemical
composition, and liver histology.
All fish were weighed and counted for the calculation of
final weight, weight gain (final weight-initial weight), daily
weight gain (weight gain/days of cultivation), final length,
condition factor ((final weight/final length3)*100), apparent
feed conversion (ration intake/weight gain), and survival
((final number of animals/initial number of animals)*100).
After being weighted, the animals were identified, immersed
in ice, and sent to the Laboratory of Fish Technology at the State
University of Western Paraná, in Toledo-PR. These fish were
subsequently eviscerated for the removal of visceral fat and liver for the
calculation of body yield (weight without viscera*100)/total weight),
SIGNOR et al. Bol. Inst. Pesca 2018, 44(3): e331. DOI: 10.20950/1678-2305.2018.331
the hepatosomatic ratio (liver weight*100)/total weight), and
visceral fat (visceral fat weight*100)/total weight).
Carcass chemical composition
Six eviscerated fish per replicate were frozen for later analysis
on carcass chemical composition. Whole fish were stored at -18 °C
for the analyses of dry matter, chemical composition, crude
protein, lipid, and mineral matter. Dry weight was calculated
after dehydration in a forced convection oven at 55 °C. The crude
protein analysis was performed by the Kjeldahl method. Lipids were
assessed using the Soxhlet method, and the mineral matter was
obtained using a muffle furnace at 550 ºC.
Hematology parameters
Eight specimens were collected in each experimental unit for
blood evaluation; the fish were anesthetized with benzocaine
(75 mg L-1 of water) (GOMES et al., 2001) and analyzed in the
Hematology Laboratory of the State University of Western Paraná,
in Toledo-PR. One milliliter of blood was collected from each fish
through caudal puncture using a disposable heparinized syringe.
These blood samples were used for erythrocyte counts and hemoglobin
and hematocrit analysis according to the methodology described by
COLLIER (1944) and GOLDENFARB et al. (1971), respectively.
The hematimetric indexes were calculated based on the average of
corpuscular hemoglobin (hemoglobin*10/erythrocytes), average of
corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (hemoglobin*100/hematocrit),
and corpuscular volume (hematocrit*10/erythrocytes).
Liver histology
Two livers were collected per replicate (8 per treatment), weighted,
and macroscopically evaluated in the Laboratory of Animal
Histotechniques from the Department of Animal Morphology
at the State University of Maringá for the histological analyses.
Liver samples were fixed in Bouin’s solution (750 mL picric acid,
250 mL formaldehyde, and 50 mL glacial acetic acid) for 24 h, and
transferred and stored in 70° GL alcohol solution. These samples
were subsequently dehydrated through an ascending alcohol series,
diaphanized in xylene, and embedded in paraffin for the production
of 6.0 µm thick semi-serial cross-sectional slices using a rotary
microtome (Leica RM 2145). These slices were mounted on slides
that were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) for the evaluation
and description of liver morphology and tissue integrity under a
microscope (400X). Fifty images/slides/fish were captured for
the quantification of hepatocytes using a high-resolution digital
camera (Pro-seriesCybertecnics Average) coupled to an Olympus
Bx 41 microscope and image analysis system (Image-Pro Plus
4.5.1-Media Cybernetics Inc.), totaling 400 images/treatment.
The total area in the microscopic field (90,570.13 mm2) subtracted
from the area occupied by the centrilobular vein (9,630.75 mm2),
corresponding to 80,939.25 mm2 of the counting useful area, was
considered as the standard measurement area.
3/8
VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTED…

Statistical analyzes
The data were submitted to the test of homogeneity and
normality of Cramer-Von Mises. The ANOVA regression analysis,
applied at the 5% significance level, was used to determine the
requirements of pacu fingerlings according to the NRC (2011)
using the statistical program SAS (SAS, 2004).
optimal levels at 6,583 and 5,555 IU of vitamin A per kilogram
of diet, respectively (Figure 1).
Carcass chemical composition
In this study, the levels of vitamin A supplemented in the diets
for pacu did not show effects on crude protein, lipids, and carcass
mineral matter (Table 3).

RESULTS Hematology parameters

Productive performance
The data demonstrates that the vitamin A supplementation did
not influence (P > 0.05) the parameters of survival, final length,
condition factor, weight eviscerated fish, and visceral fat (Table 2).
However, weight gain and apparent feed conversion in pacus were
influenced by the diet supplementation with vitamin A.
The quadratic effect was observed on daily weight gain
(y = -6E-07x2 + 0.0079x + 78.627, R2 = 0.96) and apparent feed
conversion (y = 9E-09x2 - 0.0001x + 1.6086, R2 = 0.84) through
the regression analyses; the derivation of the equation showed
No differences were observed in hematological parameters such
as hematocrit, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, corpuscular volume
average, corpuscular hemoglobin average, and corpuscular
hemoglobin concentration average between different levels of
vitamin A supplementation in the diet (P > 0.05) (Table 4).
Liver histology
The vitamin A supplementation in the diet for pacu fingerlings
showed no effects on the hepatosomatic index and number of
hepatocytes (P > 0.05) (Table 5) in this study.

Table 2. Productive performance of pacu fingerlings fed with different levels of vitamin A.

Vitamin A (IU kg-1)

Parameters Effect
0 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000
Initial weight (g) 17.45 ± 1.4 17.86 ± 1.9 17.72 ± 1.8 17.86 ± 1.3 17.67 ± 1.0 NS
Survival (%) 95.83 ± 0.3 97.22 ± 4.2 97.20 ± 4.0 100.00 97.90 ± 4.2 NS
Final length (cm) 16.09 ± 0.2 17.38 ± 0.6 15.57 ± 0.7 17.46 ± 0.5 16.83 ± 0.6 NS
Final condition factor 2.56 ± 0.1 2.24 ± 0.1 2.14 ± 0.1 2.10 ± 0.1 2.15 ± 0.1 NS
Weight eviscerated fish (%) 84.06 ± 1.9 83.89 ± 3.2 85.06 ± 1.8 85.76 ± 0.6 85.76 ± 0.4 NS
Visceral fat (%) 1.27 ± 0.3 1.27 ± 0.1 1.53 ± 0.2 1.46 ± 0.2 1.75 ± 0.3 NS
NS = not significant (P > 0.05).

Figure 1. Effect of different levels of vitamin A supplementation in the diet for pacu fingerlings on weight gain and apparent feed
conversion.

SIGNOR et al. Bol. Inst. Pesca 2018, 44(3): e331. DOI: 10.20950/1678-2305.2018.331 4/8
VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTED…

Microscopically, the hepatic parenchyma observed in all fish ii) typical hepatocytes with rounded nuclei in the central position
regardless of the supplemented levels of vitamin A in the diet with evident nucleoli, and lightly acidophilic and vacuolized
showed: i) hepatocytes arranged in continuous strands permeated cytoplasm; and iii) larger than normal hepatocytes with periphery
with sinusoids and converging to the central lobular vein (Figure 2); displaced nuclei.

Table 3. Carcass chemical composition in pacu fingerlings fed with different levels of vitamin A supplementation in the diet.
Vitamin A (IU kg-1)
Parameters (%) Effect
0 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000
Dry matter 71.48 ± 1.6 71.66 ± 3.3 72.33 ± 0.6 71.14 ± 0.9 72.84 ± 0.6 NS
Crude protein 18.08 ± 0.9 17.30 ± 0.5 17.52 ± 3.1 17.40 ± 1.2 18.78 ± 1.3 NS
Lipid 6.83 ± 1.4 6.49 ± 2.3 5.94 ± 0.9 7.18 ± 0.9 5.81 ± 0.5 NS
Mineral matter 4.43 ± 0.5 4.18 ± 1.6 3.93 ± 0.9 3.80 ± 0.7 3.53 ± 0.7 NS
NS = not significant (P > 0.05).

Table 4. Hematology parameters in pacu fingerlings fed with different levels of vitamin A supplementation in the diet.
Vitamin A (IU kg-1)
Parameters Effect
0 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000
Hematocrit (%) 39.25 ± 1.9 37.95 ± 2.2 38.05 ± 2.2 37.50 ± 1.2 38.75 ± 2.0 NS
Erythrocytes (106 µL-1) 2.34 ± 0.2 2.37 ± 0.1 2.50 ± 0.4 2.42 ± 0.3 2.28 ± 0.1 NS
Hemoglobin (g dL-1) 9.92 ± 0.3 10.04 ± 0.6 9.96 ± 1.2 10.01 ± 0.4 9.75 ± 0.5 NS
VCM (µ ) 3
179.09 ± 22.5 161.75 ± 9.7 156.44 ± 27.8 157.14 ± 17.2 172.00 ± 11.7 NS
HCM (pg) 43.35 ± 5.2 42.80 ± 2.6 41.46 ± 11.1 41.90 ± 4.1 43.42 ± 3.2 NS
CHCM (%) 25.33 ± 0.9 26.51 ± 1.7 26.33 ± 4.2 26.74 ± 1.7 25.21 ± 0.7 NS
VCM: Corpuscular volume average; HCM: Corpuscular hemoglobin average; CHCM: Corpuscular hemoglobin concentration average; NS = not significant (P > 0.05).

Table 5. Hepatosomatic ratio and number of hepatocytes in the liver of pacu fingerlings fed with different levels of vitamin A
supplementation.
Vitamin A (IU kg-1) Hepatosomatic Index (%) Hepatocytes (cells area-1)*
0 1.29 ± 0.1 257.6±47.7
3,000 1.04 ± 0.3 256.9±25.4
6,000 1.10 ± 0.1 227.4±23.9
9,000 0.98 ± 0.1 249.0±21.3
12,000 1.12 ± 0.1 284.9±36.7
Effect NS NS
*area corresponding to 80,939.25 mm2; NS = not significant (P > 0.05).

Figure 2. Liver characteristics of pacu juveniles fed diets supplemented with vitamin A. Lobular center vein (VC); cordonal
arrangement of hepatocytes (arrow AC); central nucleus of the hepatocyte (arrow NC); nucleus displaced to the periphery of the
hepatocyte (arrow ND).

SIGNOR et al. Bol. Inst. Pesca 2018, 44(3): e331. DOI: 10.20950/1678-2305.2018.331 5/8
VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTED…
DISCUSSION
We observed a quadratic effect in weight gain and apparent
feed conversion as a function of the vitamin A supplementation in
the diet, demonstrating that vitamin A influences the metabolism
and consequently the productive performance of fish. The fact of
SIGNOR et al. (2013) evaluated different levels (0; 3,000; 6,000;
9,000, and 12,000 UI vitamin A per kilogram of diet) of vitamin
A in pacu cultivated in cages and did not observe differences
in weight gain may be related to the short period of cultivation
in that study; the authors of that study explained that this short
period of cultivation did not allow the observation of negative
effects related to a lack or excess of vitamin A in the diet. It can
be inferred that in the study by SIGNOR et al. (2013), the fish
consumed natural microorganisms from the culture environment,
which complemented the nutritional requirement because that was
an oligotrophic environment (BUENO et al., 2008; BARBIERI
and BONDIOLI, 2015).
Because the Nile tilapia is an omnivorous species and similar
to pacu, the optimal levels of vitamin A observed in pacus could
be similar to those established in Nile tilapia, which varies
between 3,802 and 6,970 IU of vitamin A per kilogram of diet
(SALEH et al., 1995; HU et al., 2006; CAMPECHE et al., 2009).
PEIL et al. (2007) determined the requirement of 3,955 UI per
kilogram of diet when evaluating vitamin A supplementation in
diets for silver catfish larvae.
Studies that evaluated vitamin A dose responses report that
mortality is common when there is a vitamin A deficiency in the
diets (ORNSRUD et al., 2002; HU et al., 2006; PEIL et al., 2007;
CAMPECHE et al., 2009). In this study, the presence or absence
of vitamin A supplementation in the diet did not interfere with
the survival of pacus, which corroborates the data observed by
SIGNOR et al. (2013) in the same species. Likewise, GUO et al.
(2010) did not observe an effect of vitamin A supplementation
in the diet on the survival of tilapia fingerlings; these authors
observed 98.57% survival in fish that received a diet without
vitamin A supplementation. Conversely, the survival rate of 48%
in fish receiving the control diet and 73.68% in fish receiving diets
with 15,000 IU of vitamin A per kilogram of diet was observed in
silver catfish fingerlings (Rhamdia quelen) (PEIL et al., 2007).
The deposition of lipids in the viscera is characteristic of species
when the excess of a nutrient is stored as fat. This storage can
reach 7.97% in the abdominal cavity and 3.30% in the carcass of
animals with 850 g in weight (SIGNOR et al., 2010), and 7.02%
and 9.0% in fish grown in net tanks and approximate weight
of 1,250 g (BITTENCOURT et al., 2010). Dietary vitamin A
supplementation did not influence the deposition of visceral fat
for pacu (SIGNOR et al., 2013) and reduced for tilapia hybrids
(Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus) (HU et al., 2006) and salmon
(ORNSRUD et al., 2002).
The vitamin A supplementation in the diet did not alter parameters
such as dry matter, crude protein, lipids, and mineral matter in
carcasses of pacu. SIGNOR et al. (2013) did not observe the
effect of vitamin A on the chemical composition of carcasses
of pacu. However, the effects of vitamin A supplementation on
the chemical composition of the carcass may present divergent
SIGNOR et al. Bol. Inst. Pesca 2018, 44(3): e331. DOI: 10.20950/1678-2305.2018.331
effects due to metabolic characteristics related to the physiology
and different feeding habits between different species, which
makes it difficult to compare results.
The erythrogram results were within the standards established
for pacus as described by RANZANI-PAIVA et al. (1999),
TAVARES-DIAS et al. (1999), and TAVARES-DIAS et al. (2002).
However, in this study, no differences were observed between
erythrogram values from pacu fingerlings fed with different
levels of vitamin A supplementation in the diet. Similar results
have been reported in hematocrit (HERNANDEZ et al., 2007;
GUO et al., 2010) and hemoglobin (GUO et al., 2010). Conversely,
GOSWAMI and DUTTA (1991) observed reduced values of
hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and hematocrit with increasing vitamin
A levels in the diet.
The hepatosomatic indexes observed in pacus were similar to
those reported by SIGNOR et al. (2013). TAVARES-DIAS et al.
(2000) reported that the hepatosomatic index of this species
might range from 0.98 to 1.23 depending on body weight, gender,
and maturation status. In this study, all fish presented similar
liver characteristics with hepatic tissue irregularities regardless
of the levels of vitamin A supplementation. Similar results
were reported by SOUZA et al. (2001) and FUJIMOTO et al.
(2008) in studies with pacu (P. mesopotaminus). Most studies
about vitamin A in fish report that the supplementation does
not influence the hepatosomatic index in fish (HEMRE et al.,
2004; LIÑÁN-CABELLO and PANIAGUA-MICHEL, 2004;
HERNANDEZ  et al., 2007; FONTAGNÉ-DICHARRY et al.,
2010); Yet even though this organ is a local storage of vitamin A
in fish (CAMPECHE et al., 2009; FERNANDEZ and GISBERT,
2011) the studied supplementation levels did not alter the liver size.
The variation in the number of hepatocytes present in the hepatic
parenchyma reflects the effect of the diet on the body metabolism,
although no variation was observed in pacus. Vitamin A is a
liposoluble product that, when absorbed in the liver, can be stored
in the tissue (NRC, 2011) prolonging the appearance of clinical
signs of deficiency. A prolonged experimental period is fundamental
for the appearance of such clinical signs (MOREN et al., 2004).
Therefore, variations in the liver of fish are relevant to provide
information that can contribute to the development of diets that
meet the nutritional requirements of each cultivation phase
(CABALLERO et al., 1999; BOLLA et al., 2011).
CONCLUSION
We concluded that the supplementation of at least 5,555 IU of
vitamin A per kilogram of diet is needed to improve the performance
of pacu fingerlings (P. mesopotamicus).
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